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Prepare the data →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is that the source table contains a date value not recognized as a valid DateTime by Power BI. This error occurs because Power BI’s DateTime type only supports dates from January 1, 1900, through December 31, 9999; any value outside this range—such as a placeholder date like '0001-01-01' or an extremely future date—triggers the "date out of range error" during a Power BI refresh. On the PL-300 exam, this scenario tests your ability to diagnose refresh failures tied to data type constraints, often appearing as a trick where candidates blame data source connectivity or permissions instead of the actual invalid date. A common trap is assuming the error means the date format is wrong, but the issue is strictly the value’s range. Memory tip: think of Power BI’s date range as a calendar from 1900 to 9999—any date outside that window is simply out of bounds.

PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question

This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare the data. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.
{
  "dataSources": [
    {
      "name": "SalesData",
      "connectionString": "Data Source=server.contoso.com;Initial Catalog=SalesDB;Integrated Security=SSPI;"
    }
  ],
  "dataset": {
    "tables": [
      {
        "name": "Orders",
        "source": {
          "type": "m",
          "expression": "let
  Source = Sql.Database(\"server.contoso.com\", \"SalesDB\"),
  dbo_Orders = Source{[Schema=\"dbo\",Item=\"Orders\"]}[Data],
  #\"Filtered Rows\" = Table.SelectRows(dbo_Orders, each [OrderDate] > #date(2025,1,1))
in
  #\"Filtered Rows\"
"
        },
        "columns": [
          {"name": "OrderID", "dataType": "Int64"},
          {"name": "OrderDate", "dataType": "DateTime"},
          {"name": "Amount", "dataType": "Decimal"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

You are analyzing a Power BI dataset definition. The dataset refreshes but recently started failing with the error 'The 'OrderDate' column of the table 'Orders' has a date value that is out of range.' You need to diagnose the issue. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.
{
  "dataSources": [
    {
      "name": "SalesData",
      "connectionString": "Data Source=server.contoso.com;Initial Catalog=SalesDB;Integrated Security=SSPI;"
    }
  ],
  "dataset": {
    "tables": [
      {
        "name": "Orders",
        "source": {
          "type": "m",
          "expression": "let
  Source = Sql.Database(\"server.contoso.com\", \"SalesDB\"),
  dbo_Orders = Source{[Schema=\"dbo\",Item=\"Orders\"]}[Data],
  #\"Filtered Rows\" = Table.SelectRows(dbo_Orders, each [OrderDate] > #date(2025,1,1))
in
  #\"Filtered Rows\"
"
        },
        "columns": [
          {"name": "OrderID", "dataType": "Int64"},
          {"name": "OrderDate", "dataType": "DateTime"},
          {"name": "Amount", "dataType": "Decimal"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

The source table contains a date value that is not recognized as a valid DateTime by Power BI.

The error message indicates that a date value in the 'OrderDate' column of the 'Orders' table is out of the range supported by Power BI's DateTime type (1/1/1900 00:00:00 to 12/31/9999 23:59:59.999). This typically occurs when the source contains a date like '0001-01-01' or a future date beyond the upper bound, which Power BI cannot convert to a valid DateTime. Option A is correct because the source table has a date value that is not recognized as a valid DateTime by Power BI, causing the refresh to fail.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • ✓

    The source table contains a date value that is not recognized as a valid DateTime by Power BI.

    Why this is correct

    Out of range errors often occur due to invalid date values.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    The columns in the dataset definition do not match the source table.

    Why it's wrong here

    The columns match.

  • ✗

    The connection string is invalid.

    Why it's wrong here

    The connection string appears correct.

  • ✗

    The M expression has a syntax error.

    Why it's wrong here

    The expression is syntactically correct.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse a date-out-of-range error with a data type mismatch error (e.g., text vs. date), but the specific wording 'out of range' points to a valid date value that falls outside Power BI's supported DateTime range, not an invalid format.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Power BI's DateTime type is backed by the .NET DateTime structure, which has a range from 1/1/0001 to 12/31/9999, but Power BI's internal engine (VertiPaq) further restricts the lower bound to 1/1/1900 for date columns. A common real-world scenario is when a source database uses a 'zero date' (e.g., '0000-00-00' in MySQL) or a placeholder like '1899-12-30' for missing dates, which falls outside the supported range. The error occurs during the data conversion step in the M engine, where Power BI attempts to parse the source value into a DateTime and fails.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
  • Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
  • Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

  • Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
  • Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PL-300 question test?

Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The source table contains a date value that is not recognized as a valid DateTime by Power BI. — The error message indicates that a date value in the 'OrderDate' column of the 'Orders' table is out of the range supported by Power BI's DateTime type (1/1/1900 00:00:00 to 12/31/9999 23:59:59.999). This typically occurs when the source contains a date like '0001-01-01' or a future date beyond the upper bound, which Power BI cannot convert to a valid DateTime. Option A is correct because the source table has a date value that is not recognized as a valid DateTime by Power BI, causing the refresh to fail.

What should I do if I get this PL-300 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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This PL-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PL-300 exam.